The Perfect Escape

Compare Nate’s parents with Kate’s. How are they similar and/or different? How is each parent’s behavior influenced by their own experiences? Does this justify their behavior? Why or why not?

How do Nate’s and Kate’s friends support or challenge each protagonist? Would the protagonists’ success be possible without their respective friends’ support? Why or why not?

If there were to be a sequel to the novel, how would each character’s storyline play out? Predict the outcomes of the current dynamics between Nate and his family, and Kate and her father, as well as the growing romantic relationship between the two protagonists.

Why is the author’s own background significant? How might her identity as a Korean American and her previous experience as a comedian affect her depictions of these elements in the story? Identify the various ways in which the author employs humor as a way of critiquing the underlying social issues in the novel as a whole.

Nate constantly confronts his ambiguous feelings toward his little sister, Lucy. Why is the development of their brother-sister relationship important for Nate’s development? How would the presence of a sibling affect Kate’s situation, and in what ways does Jeeves fill part of this role?

How are microaggressions different from outright racial discrimination, especially as experienced by Nate? Is Peter’s behavior deliberately malicious or just ignorant? Analyze the ways in which even “benign” ignorance can be harmful.

How do the novel’s shifting narrative perspectives aid in communicating the overarching messages about money, family, and love? How would the story change if told from only Nate’s or Kate’s point of view?

How is technology portrayed as a positive or negative influence in the novel? What advantages and disadvantages does it provide to the characters and to society in general?